Robert Glen Owen

Erie Police Department — Erie, PA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch December 29, 1980

Age 40

Tour of Duty 9 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 123 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 13

Incident

Corporal Robert Owen was shot and killed while on duty behind a warehouse on West 18th Street near Cranberry Street. His body was found in the early morning hours of December 29th, but investigators believe he was shot shortly before midnight on the 28th. His body was lying about 75 feet away from his patrol car with a single bullet wound to the chest. The murder weapon was his own, a Colt Trooper Mark III .357, although the gun was not immediately found. The condition of Corporal Owen's jacket and shirt indicated that he was likely involved in a struggle before he was shot. His keys and a set of handcuffs with one cuff partially open were found near the start of the bloody trail north of the patrol car and several feet away from the body, suggesting perhaps that the officer might have either attempted to reach his car or was partially dragged in that direction. Also present were cigarette butts from two different brands of cigarettes and a lighter. A man walking his dogs discovered the unattended police car and flashlight and called in the report. Investigators later determined that the man had also picked up the gun in the woods while he was walking but disposed of the gun after realizing it had been the weapon that killed Corporal Owen. He later admitted taking the gun and, after passing three polygraph tests, was cleared as a suspect. The gun was recovered and had traces of Corporal Owen's blood on and in the barrel leading investigators to believe it was shot at close range. No suspects were ever identified or apprehended in connection with his death. Corporal Owen was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Erie Police department for nine and a half years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-3D3E8543
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Corporal Owen gave the Erie Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Erie community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Erie Police Department

Location Erie, PA

Platform Identity epd.erie.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 29, 1980

Tour of Duty 9 yrs 6 mo

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Never identified

Military Service

Robert Glen Owen served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Corporal Robert Glen Owen is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Erie Police Department, 7 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Erie Police Department

of 14 officers

50% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious